Link's Slow Start

by Susannah
(Crestview, FL)

1 week ago 3 mos. old

When we first got Link (our Cat is Zelda) we were told he was 8 lbs (he was 8 weeks old). By the second day he developed horrible diarrhea and when we took him to the vet a few day's later he was less than 7 lbs and horribly infested with several types of worms.

We had him dewormed 3 times total, but by the time we took him back for the third check his weight had doubled from 8 lbs to 16 in 3 weeks. When we took him back earlier this week to get fixed, the worms were completely gone and he had gained another 10 lbs.

So now he is just about to be 4 months and weighs 26 lbs. We have been feeding him Science Diet since day one, and it seems to be working well.

Comments for Link's Slow Start

I just purchased my first GSD and they said he was 8 weeks but only weighed 5 pounds. I am wondering if there is hope for him to grow to his full adult potential seeing that he had worms like Link did.

Sumo will be 9 weeks on 7/4/11 and today 7/2/11 he weighs 8 pounds. I finally got him to eat after he went 2 days turning his nose up at everything I put in front of him.

Also, when did Link's ears stand up? Sumo's are still both down.

AAFCO and Dog Healthby: Jennifer

Thank you for taking the time to comment.

The first four ingredients in Hill's Science Diet:

Ground Whole Grain Corn

Chicken By-Product Meal

Corn Gluten Meal

Liver Flavor

show me that despite the research that Hill's performs, this is not an ideal dog food.

The digestive systems of dogs were not designed to consume grain. I think this is part of what contributes to bloat in dogs.

From what I can tell, AAFCO guidelines do not intend to promote good health. Hersh Pendell, the president, has admitted that commercial dog food may contain the remains of ground-up dogs and cats.

Personally, I do not trust the FDA guidelines for my own health, so I am not inclined to follow AAFCO guidelines for the health of my dogs.

I look at ingredients first and foremost. I am pleased that your dog has had no problems with Hill's, but the natural pet food I recommend consistently on this site has been tried-and-true to produce good health in my dogs and those of my readers.

Whenever I take my dogs to PetCo or PetSmart, I receive positive comments on their healthy appearance. Based on this, and my low vet bills, I will continue to recommend natural pet food for our canine friends.

~Jennifer

Anti Hills?by: Anonymous

While the ingredients sound better in brands like Wellness and Nutro, the fact that Science Diet analyzes its nutrition based on feeding trials conducted according to AAFCO standards rather than simply formulating to meet AAFCO standards keeps me coming back, plus my dog does well on it. I am not saying that other companies don't provide good nutrition to pets, simply that they don't have the extensive research put into it that Hill's does.

Food Switchby: Susannah

After doing research for several weeks I finally today picked up Link's first bag of new dog food. We didn't have any problems with the Science Diet but I have been looking for something better for him that is well balanced and affordable. His last bag of Science diet finally got low enough to buy a bag of the new food to integrate in.

The brand we decided to go with is 4 Health which is actually a dog food sold only at Tractor Supply and manufactured for them. It is $10 CHEAPER than the Science Diet but it has most of the hallmarks of the better brands. The ingredient list is similar to the puppy food from brands such as Wellness & Blue Buffalo.

Hopefully he likes it, we will find out over the next 2 weeks or so as we transition.

Here is the ingredient list from his old food, the Science Diet Large Breed Puppy:

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